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The Jockey Club of Canada Graded Stakes Committee announces six stakes upgrades for 2020

February 5, 2020

TORONTO, February 5, 2020 – The Jockey Club of Canada’s Graded Stakes Committee held its annual review of the Graded and Listed Stakes races in Canada. The number of Graded Stakes in Canada will remain at 45. However, six races currently with Black Type status will be upgraded to Listed status for 2020.

The Graded Stakes Committee meeting was conducted by Committee Chair, Ross McKague, who was accompanied by all Committee Members, Jeffrey Begg, Tom Cosgrove, Catherine Day Phillips and Jockey Club of Canada’s Chief Steward R. Glenn Sikura. As well, the attending racetrack representatives included Julie Bell, Jessica Buckley, Matt Jukich, Scott Lane, Darren MacDonald, Rob MacLennan and Nichelle Milner.

After reviewing the North American Race Committee (NARC) figures and the Race Quality Scores (RQS) for all Graded and Listed races in Canada, the Committee determined that six, highly qualified, open Black Type races will be elevated to Listed status for 2020. The races include, the Belle Mahone S., Flaming Page S., Sweet Briar Too S., Charlie Barley S., Alywow S., and Ruling Angel S. These races had previously been considered ineligible for Graded and Listed status.

Jean Elizabeth and jockey Patrick Husbands winning the 2019 Sweet Briar Too Stakes at Woodbine. (Michael Burns Photo)

Other changes include distance decreases for the G2 Nijinsky S. decreasing from 12 furlongs to 10 furlongs, the G3 Dominion Day S. decreasing from 10 furlongs to 9 furlongs, the G3 Singspiel S. decreasing from 12 furlongs to 10 furlongs and the G3 Durham Cup S. decreasing from 9 furlongs to 8.5 furlongs for 2020.

Additionally, Fantasy S. was downgraded from Listed Status to Black Type for 2020.

The Jockey Club of Canada Graded Stakes Committee evaluates and reviews the Graded Stakes in Canada annually and determines whether races should be upgraded, downgraded or remain the same. The Committee bases their decisions on the cumulative NARC ratings for five consecutive years as well as the most recent and Black-type RQS Scores.

 Graded Stakes for 2020 in Canada:

Name of Stakes Race Grade Distance Track Age/Sex
Current G1s        
Canadian International (Pattison) G1 12T WO 3up
Woodbine Mile (Ricoh) G1 8T WO 3up
Northern Dancer Turf G1 12T WO 3up
E.P. Taylor Stakes G1 10T WO 3up f/m
Natalma Stakes G1 8T WO 2yof
Summer Stakes G1 8T WO 2yo
Highlander Stakes G1 6T WO 3up
Current G2s
Nijinsky Stakes G2 10T WO 3up
Play The King Stakes G2 7T WO 3up
King Edward Stakes G2 8T WO 3up
Autumn Stakes G2 8.5 WO 3up
Kennedy Road Stakes G2 6 WO 3up
Nearctic Stakes G2 6T WO 3up
Connaught Cup Stakes G2 7T WO 4up
Eclipse Stakes G2 8.5 WO 4up
Nassau Stakes G2 8T WO 3up f/m
Dance Smartly Stakes G2 10T WO 3up f/m
Canadian Stakes G2 9T WO 3up f/m
Bessarabian Stakes G2 7 WO 3up f/m
Royal North Stakes G2 6T WO 3up f/m
Current G3s
Grey Stakes G3 8.5 WO 2yo
Mazarine Stakes G3 8.5 WO 2yof
Marine Stakes G3 8.5 WO 3yo
BC Premier’s Handicap G3 11 HST 3up
Seagram Cup Stakes G3 8.5 WO 3up
Dominion Day Stakes G3 9 WO 3up
Singspiel Stakes G3 10T WO 3up
Durham Cup Stakes G3 8.5 WO 3up
Valedictory Stakes G3 14 WO 3up
Bold Venture G3 6.5 WO 3up
Vigil Stakes G3 7 WO 4up
Ballerina Stakes G3 9 HST 3up f/m
Ontario Fashion Stakes G3 6 WO 3up f/m
Seaway Stakes G3 7 WO 3up f/m
Maple Leaf Stakes G3 10 WO 3up f/m
Ontario Matron Stakes G3 8.5 WO 3up f/m
Whimsical Stakes G3 6 WO 4up f/m
Hendrie Stakes G3 6.5 WO 4up f/m
British Columbia Derby G3 9 HST 3yo
Canadian Derby G3 10 CTM 3yo
Ontario Derby G3 9 WO 3yo
Selene Stakes G3 8.5 WO 3yof
Ontario Colleen Stakes G3 8T WO 3yof
Trillium Stakes G3 8.5 WO 3up f/m
Jacques Cartier Stakes G3 6 WO 4up

 

For complete information, visit The Jockey Club of Canada’s website: 2020 Canadian Graded and Listed Stakes

(The Jockey Club of Canada)

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